Bone augmentation in rabbit tibia using microfixed cobalt-chromium membranes with whole blood, tricalcium phosphate and bone marrow cells

To assess bone augmentation based on a non-critical defect, 1.5 mm deep cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) barrier membranes were placed on seven adult California rabbits with three different grafting situations: whole blood, whole blood with tricalcium phosphate (TCP), and TCP mixed with bone marrow cells. Macroscopic assessment of the animals was performed once a week and densitometric studies were performed once a month. Three months post-surgery, after detaching the membranes, tibias were sectioned and followed the routine laboratory processing for decalcified sections, with inclusion in paraffin and staining by hematoxylin and eosin technique. Bone augmentation was observed for each animal, even sometimes over the Co-Cr membranes. Compact bone was mostly observed for every situation, with a higher cellular activity on those samples with bone grafts. This could be due to the presence of graft remains at the growth area. It could be concluded that blood supply to the site providing growth factors by the blood clot formation, and the placement of an osteoconductive non-resolvable membrane that favors osseoinduction, may be sufficient elements to achieve bone augmentation in a period of three months in rabbit tibia.